Bronx News Roundup January 15

DJ Kool Herc -- widely considered the founder of hip-hop-- is joining forces with tenants of his former West Bronx home, 1520 Sedgwick Avenue , in an effort to save the building from being sold to a private investor. In 1973, Herc threw a party in the rec room of the building, and many people consider this the launching point for hip-hop. Today, Herc, longtime tenants of 1520 Sedgwick Ave, and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York)are among those at a press conference at the building to announce their intention to raise $14 million to purchase the building themselves. Check out David Freedlander's front-page story in AM New York.

Bob Kapstatter reports that there was a slight decrease in parking tickets issued in the Bronx in 2007 -- a 0.7 percent decrease from 2006. This downturn was not nearly as large as the citywide reduction of 6 percent. Here in the West Bronx, the 44th Precinct, which includes Highbridge saw a 14.4 percent decrease in tickets issued. The 46th Precinct, encompassing Fordham, Mount Hope, University Heights, and Morris Heights, witnessed a 13.8 downfall in tickets issued. However, the 52nd Precinct, which includes Kingsbridge, Norwood, and Bedford Heights, saw a slight increase -- 2.7 percent -- in parking tickets issued.

The notion that the Bronx is thriving economically has become a staple of Borough President Adolfo Carrión's speeches in recent years. But this article by Dorian Block in the Daily News suggests that it depends on how you measure economic development.